Safety device for submarine or submersible boats.



E. L. PEACOCK.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR SUBMARINE 0R SUBMERSIBLE BOATS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20. I915.

Patented June 15, 1915.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTC'LITHOH wASHINGmN, D. at

EDWARD LASIUS PEACOCK, 0F WALLSEND-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR SUBMARINE OR SUBMERSIBLE BOATS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 15, 1915.

Application filed March 20, 1915. Serial No. 15,837.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD LASIUS PEA- COCK, engineer, a subject of the King of Great Britain, of Wallsend Shipyard, Wallsend-upon-Tyne, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Safety Devices for Submarine or Submersible Boats, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to submarines or submersible boats and has for its object to provide devices which shall prevent the submergence of a boat to greater depth when in motion than beyond a predetermined depth or to stop quickly and easily the submerging to greater depth or if desired to cause the boat to rise at a critical moment.

According to this invention dynamical means for controlling the depth are provided with other means which are adapted to cause said depth controlling means to act in a direction to stop the submergence and if desired to bring the boat to the surface, when the said depth controlling means cease to be controllable, or when the boat reaches a certain predetermined depth.

Means are also illustrated for quickly and easily disconnecting the said depth controlling dynamical means from its operating gear for the purpose. to stop quickly the submerging of the boat if the said operating gear becomes uncontrollable, and if desired to cause also the depth controlling means to act in the direction to bring the boat to the surface.

Figure 1 is a part longitudinal section through the boat, the arrangement of one form of the apparatus made in accordance with this invention being shown only diagrammatically. Fig. 2 is a detail showing one example of disconnecting coupling in the shaft to a diving rudder; and Fig. 3 is the same coupling shown in the released position.

In Fig 1 ais a plane for controlling the angle of the boat or depth of submergence operated by the controlling gear 6 which may be hydraulic, pneumatic or any other device for operating by power or by hand or a combination of power or hand. In the shaft 0 between the controlling gear and the plane or other means for controlling submergence is placed a safety coupling (Z. In the coupling (5 both ends of a shaft 0 are centered by a conical connection 9 and are held together by the hinged lugs 72. the flange j keeping the hinged lugs in their closed position the flange being secured to the lugs by small screws 70. The disconnecting of the coupling is eflected by moving the levers Z operated preferably by an air cylinder m the piston in which forces the flange j away from lugs 72 the securing screws being sheared in this operation. Now the lugs 71. can open free and thereby the coupling is released.

In Fig. 3 the coupling is shown in the released position. By further motion of the lever Z and the flange j the flange j comes up against the ring 0 which is formed on the left hand part of the shaft 0 and forces the shaft 0 and plane a into the position to cause the boat to rise.

Further in Fig. 1 is shown an example of the use of an inclinable plane which can only cause the boat to rise, the use of which for another purpose is already described and claimed in my British Patent No. 15875 granted to me in 1911. p is the plane, 1' its operating cylinder or any other suitable mechanism shown in the position which would cause the boat to rise. The compressed air, liquid under pressure or other means of power is shown in this example as supplied to the working cylinders m and r from the storage tank 8 whether by opening by hand one of the valves t of which many may be disposed in different parts of the boat or by the valve it operated by any well known automatic depth regulating device, a.

In the drawings Fig. 1 one valve operates simultaneously both means to operate the planes but if desired any one plane or combination of planes may be operated by hand or an automatic depth regulating device separately.

In practice the automatic or hand gear for operating the means to move the plane will be made so that there is no chance of its operating unless it is intended to do so.

It is to be understood that the details of construction or location as shown may be varied without departing from the scope of the invention.

What I claim and desireto secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a submarine or submersible boat dynamical means for controlling the depth of submergence in combination with means for operating said dynamical means and means for disconnecting the said operating means from the depth controlling means.

2. In a submarine or submersible boat a plurality of dynamical means for controlling the depth of submergence, in combination with means for operating said dynamical means and means for disconnecting one of the said operating means from one of the depth controlling means simultaneously operating another of the means for controlling the depth of submergence.

3. In a submarine or submersible boat a plane pivotally connected to the boat, controlling means for altering the inclination of said plane said controlling means comprising a shaft and means for operating said shaft said shaft disposed between the said inclined plane and the operating means, a coupling in said shaft, means for uncoupling said coupling, means for operating that portion of the shaft between the coupling and the plane after the coupling has been uncoupled.

l. In a submarine or submersible boat a plane pivotally connected to the boat, controlling means for altering the inclination of said plane said controlling means comprising a shaft and means for operating said shaft, said shaft disposed between the said inclined plane and the operating means, a coupling in said shaft, means for uncou- Gopies of this patent maj be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

pling said coupling, means for operating that portion of the shaft between the coupling and the plane after the coupling has beenuncoupled, a plane above the boat to cause the boat to lessen its depth of submergence and means for altering the inclination of said plane.

5. "In a submarine or submersible boat a plane pivotally connected to the boat, controlling means for altering the inclination v matic means for altering the inclination V of said second plane when a predetermined depth has been attained.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. V

EDWARD LASIUS PEACOGK.

W itnesses: V

HETHERINGTON Nixon, Anion MlTCHINSON Washington, D. G'. 

